1 Kings 5:17 Meaning and Explanation
“And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →At Solomon's command, great and costly hewn stones are brought to lay the temple's foundation.
What Does 1 Kings 5:17 Mean?
At the king's command, the workers bring great, costly, carefully cut stones to lay the foundation of the temple. The foundation receives the finest materials, for everything that rises will rest upon it. The narrative lingers on the quality and cost of these unseen stones.
What lies hidden beneath bears the greatest weight. The foundation stones, costly and exact, will never be admired by the eye, yet the whole house depends on them. So in the life of faith, the deepest and most important things are often unseen, laid in the quiet places of the heart. Scripture speaks of Christ as the sure foundation and chief cornerstone, upon whom everything is built. A house meant to last must begin with stones laid faithfully where no one looks.
1 Kings 5:17 in the Original Language
yacad (יָסַד), 'to lay the foundation' -- to establish a firm base, the unseen footing on which all else securely rests.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Kings 5:17
What does 1 Kings 5:17 mean?
At Solomon's command, great and costly hewn stones are brought to lay the temple's foundation.